A cokporatton



ay 7 M. .1. MILMOE BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

IQYVENTOR.

BY 3 @(M ATTORNEYS.

y M. J. MILMOE BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM ill 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 [LU] u 11 III n u I! n u I! u M INVENTOR.

BY W y ATTORNEYS.

May 1927' M. J. MILMOE BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 1925 6Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNEYS.

LO g IN VENTOR.

ay 7 M. J. MILMOE BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTOR. ,9. (Ma 14M BY V d (7 (044 M A @M ATTQRNEYS.

May 10,1927. -i,627,920

M. J. MILMOE BLANK FEEDING MECHANI SM 6 Sh ats-Sheet 5 By 0 1/1444 sr ATTORNEYS.

May 10,1927. M. J. MIL-MOE BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 12, 1925 sSheets-Sheet 6 INVEN TOR.

A T TORNEYS.

Fatented May 10, 192?.

UNETE STA"? ii ei'l MICHAEL 3'. MILHOE, 3F CHICAGQ, ILLlINOIS, ssslon'onTD 1. B. CUE;- IANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CORZORATIOE? GE ILLINOIS.

BLANKFEEDING MEGEANISLYI.

.Appl'ioatic-n filed December 12, 1925.

This invention relates to mechanism for feeding blanks or. sheets and isespecially adapted to feed carton blanks to mechanism for forming theblanks into cartons.

' -The,ob 'ect of the invention is to provide a sheet. feeding mechanismwhich will be accurate. andreliable in its operation, which will be ofimproved construction, and which will operate on blanks of irregularshape.

. The invention is exemplified in the convination and arrangement ofparts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the followingspecification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims. 7

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a top plan view of a blank feed ing mechanism embodying onei'orn'i oi? the present invention. 4

Fig. '2 is side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of a detail of construction.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the parts shownin'Fig. 3.

Fig: 5 is a rear elevation of the me hanism shownin Figs. 1 and Fig. (3is a vertical section' substantially on line 6G .of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 7, is an elevation of the mechanism for separating the blanks fromthe bottom of the stack.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a detail of constructi'on.

Fig 9 is a top plan View of a'portion of the. mechanism including thestripper- Fig. 10 is an elevation of a carton blank for which theembodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is adapted.

In my, prior application Serial No. 410,4.O1 I have shown a form ofcarton forming and tilliug mechanism to which un folded carton blanksare supplied, the blanks Serial No. $1,969.

The mechanism as shown in the drawings is upported on a frame 11, whichmaybe th rear end ot the frame of a carton 'fOIiTr in and fillingmachine. The machine is l r vided with a main drive shaft 12, whichoperates a sprocket chain 13 extending upwardly to asprocket Wheel 14 ona jack shaft 15. The shaft 1.5 is provided with a bevel gear 16, whichmeshes with a cooperating gear 17 on a shaft 18 eXtendingtransverselv ofthe machine and arranged to drive parts of the blank feeding mechanism.The blanks as shown at 19, Fig. 10, are-irregular in shape comprising a.longitudinal strip and flaps disposed at opposite sides thereof. Theblank is folded into theforrn of carton by folding on the transverselines 20. The flaps are then in position to form closures for the endsof the cartons.

The blanks are held in a magazine com ising end walls 22 and 23 whichare provided with supporting strips 24 and 25, respectively, which arebent "inwardly at. their lower edges to form supporting flanges orledges 26 and 27. The ends oflthe cartons rest on the ledges 26 and 27,and forwardly pro ecting flaps 2 engage an inclined plate 29 supportedon bracket 30 extei'id'ing for-- wardly from the side Wall 22. 'Tlie arebent. slightly upwardly and the lower edge of the plate 25) terminatesabove the ledges 26 and 27, so that the l'mverrnost flap-s will pass thelower edge of theplate IX suction head 31 is arranged to engage the lrearwardly extending ii: p 32 of the lowermost carton blank and draw itdownwardly away from the other blanks, as shown [in F'g. 7. on the endof an arm ha 'iug an airduct 34; extending longitudinally thereof. The

head 31 is provided with a transversec vlindrical passage 85 having arotary valve 36 disposed therein. A passage.

being carried to the carton "forming ineehafrom the cylindrical opening35 tothe connism by a conveyor upon which they are placed by lizind. Thepresent invention is designed especially to cooperate with the cartonforming mechanism'shon'n in the aforementioned a 'iplication. and isarranged to supply the hla lrs automatically to the form ing mechanism.It will be understood, how ever. that the invention not limited to theparticular machine to which the blanks are fed.

the head 2 tact surface of the head. The rotary valve 36 has cut-awayportions 38 and 39 (in-opposite sides thereof arranged to connect theThis suction headis formedrigidly 37 extends passage 37 alternately withthe air. duct and with a vent opening 10. An arm 4]. is connected to theend of the valve 36 and 1s provided with a pin iiextending into a camshaped opening; i in a plate it. \Vhen upwardly to engage will beconnected to the air duct 34 by means of the port 39. As the arm 33swings downwardly the pin 42 will strike the lower edge of the camopening 43 and rotate the arm 41 into the position shown in Fig. 8, sothat the port 38 will connect the opening 37 with atmosphere through theport 40. The arm 33 is connected at its end opposite the suction head 31to a rock shaft 45, which is rovided with a central duct 46 communicatmgwith the air duct 34 in the arm 33. The rock shaft 45 extends through asuction chamber 47 and forms a tight connection with the walls of thechamber; The duct 46 is provided with an opening into the suctionchamber 47 throu h a pipe line 48, which communicates wit a pump 49. Therock shaft 45 projects from the side of the suction chamber 47 andcarries an arm 50 having a cam roller 51 thereon,-which travels in a camgroove 52 in a wheel 53. The wheel 53 is mounted on the shaft 18 so thatrotation of the shaft will "osciliate the arm 33 and move the suctionhead 3111p and down. \Vhen the suction head is raised it will engage thelower face of the lowermost carton blank and on the return movement willdraw the flap 32 downwardly into-3'tlie position shown in Fig. 7. Beforethe suction is released by the v lve 36 a stripper will be moved betweent e upper face of the lowermost carton blank and the other blanks in thestack. This stripper comprises a pair of spaced plates 54 and 55, shownmore clearly in Figs. 0 and 9. These plates are supported on theswinging frame 56 having forwardly extending ribs 57 and 58 forsupporting the plates 54 and 55, respectively. The frame 56 is supportedon a pair of pins 59 and 60, which are journnled in bearings 61, 62, 63and 64 extendingupwardly from the frame 56. The pin 59 is supported on arocker frame 65 comprising a. iair of arms 66 and 67 connected by crossbars 68 and pivoted at their lower ends on a shaft 69 supported bybrackets 70 mounted on the frame 11. The shaft 60 is.carried on an arm71 journaled at '72 on the bracket 70. It will be seen that the frame 65and the, arm 71 provide a parallel movement for the stripper frame 56.The frame 65 is oscillated by a link 73, which is connected at 74 to theframe 65 and at 75 to an arm 76. The arm 76 is pivotally mounted at 77on the frame of the machine and is provided with a cam roller 78, whichengages a cam groove 79 on the cam wheel 80 mounted on the shaft 18.Rotation of the shaft 18 oscillates the arm 76. which motion istransmitted through the link 73 to the frame 65 and stripper frame 56.The link 73 is adjustable to permit adjustment of the position of thestripper frame. The stripper will move forwardly from the. positionshown in Fig. 7 and will engage the upper surface of the carton blank,extracting the carton from the magazine and carrying it downwardlybeneath the plate 54 until the stripper plate has reached the positionshown in Fig. 6.

In order that the lowermost carton may be easily extracted from beneaththe other cartons in the stack it is desirable to lift the stack ofcartons at the time that the lowermost carton is extracted. This resultis secured b means of a pair of lifters comprising sli e bars 81 and 82.These bars are provided with grooves 83 and 84, which slidably engagepins 85 and 86 on supporting brackets 87 and 88 respectively. Thelifters are provided with nose pieces 89 and 90 arranged to extendbeneath the edges of the carton blanks. The lifter 81 is in the rear ofthe lifter 82 for the reason that the lifter 81 engages the rearwardlyprojecting end flaps while the lifter 82 is positioned in registrationwith the edge of the main body portion of the carton. The lifter 89carries a roller 9.1 arranged to engage the upper edge of a cam plate 92supported on the rib 57 of the stripper frame 56. In like manner thelifter 82 is provided with a roller 93 arranged to engage a cam plate 94on the supporting rib 58. As the strlpper frame swings forwardly the camplate will carry the lifter forwardly against tie rear edge of thecarton and the rollers will travel on the upper faces of the camplatesto. lift the cartons and free the lowermost blank so that it maybe withdrawn from the ledges26 and 27. The lifters 81 and 82 areprovided with cam faces 95 and 96, which engage cooperating fixed stops97 and 98 to swim the lifters forwardly as they are raised by the camplates.

A reciprocating slide is provided for receiving the carton blanks asthey are extracted from the magazine and for moving them forwardly intopositionto be engaged by the carton forming mechanism. This slidecomprises a bar 1.00 having a longitudinal groove provide-I; with rackteeth 101 for meshing with a gear 102. The gear 102 is mounted on ash;.1ft1O3, which carries a pinion 104 meshing with a rack 105. The rack105 is provided with a cam fork 106 at its lower end which engages thedrive shaft 12 and which carries a cam when 107 engaging a cam groove108 in a cam wheel 109 secured to the shaft 12. By this mechanismreciprocation is imparted to the bar 100. A plate 110 is secured to therear end of the bar and carries a pivot pin 111 having a forwardlyextending arm 112 mounted thereon. The forward end of the arm 112 isprovided with a cross piece 113 The blades 114 and 115 underlie theplates 54 and 55, respectively. A link 116 is pivotally connwged at 117to the arm 112 and the lower d d, of the link is provided on thelower'end oi the arm 67 of the frame (35. Vlhen the'frame is swungrearwardly the'pin l-l9 will engage the upper end of the slot 118 andraise the arm i712 and the blades 114 and 115 into. the position shownin Fig. 7. The blades will be irictionally retained in this position byfriction clamp shown more clearly in Figs. 5; and 4. This clampcomprises a bracket 120 mounted on the frame plate 121. A pair of earsextend laterally from the bracket 120 and a jaw member 123 is pivotallymounted at 124 between the ears 122. A vspring 1*2-3 closes the upperend of the jaw member against the arm 112 and clamps the arm between"the jaw member 123 and an upwardly projecting flange 125 on the bracket-120. This will retainthe blades 114 and 115 in their uppermost positionuntil they are forced downwardly by the pressure of the stripper againstthe extracted carton blank In this way the blades serve to support theblank against the lower face of the stripper and prevent displacement ofthe blank during its downward movement from the lowerend of the stack.The rack 109 remains stationary during the downward movement oi theblades. This movement will position the rear edge of the carton in frontof the forward ends of a pair of fingers 126. These fingers aresupported on a transverse. plate 127 secured to the front ed act theplate 110. When the carton blankas been moved a stack of blanks, asuction head for engaging a projecting portion of the lowen most blankof the stack and tor moving said projecting portion downwardly, astripper a rranged to enterthe spaee between the said projecting portionand the-remaining blanks in said magazine to extract said blank froinsaid magazine, and a litter operated by said stripper to raise theremaining blanks in aid magazine to permit said lowermost blank to beeasily withdrawn irom said suport in; l dges.

2. Blank feeding mechanism comprising a support for a stack of blanks asuction head for en aging the lower face of the bot tom blank in saidstack, a pivoted arm for i i l 3 I l V uppoitmg Hilfl sin-tron ne innead navin; a contact directed laterally relative to said arm to engagesaid blank when said ating: lever to more said valve when said head isswung by said arm.

3. Apparatus for feeding blanks compr1singa support for a stack ofblanks, a suction head for engaging the blanks in said slack, means formoving said head toward and from said stack, a valve for controlling theoperation of said head; an arm connected with said valve, and extendingtransversely of the direction of movementof said arm, and a stationarycam for engaging said arm to operate said valve-when-said head is movedrelative to said stack, said cam having opposed abutment portionsbetween which said arm oscillated by the movc mr-nt of said head. i

4. Apparatus for feeding lanlrs comprising a support for a stack ofblanks 'to he fol a suction head for engaging the blanks in said stack,a pivoted arm for supporting said suction head having an air ductcommunicating with said suction head, a spindle on nfhich said arm ismounted having an air duct therein communicating with the duct in .saidarm, an exhaust: chamber through which said spindle passes, the air ductineaid spindle communicating with the interiorof said exhaust chamber,and means for exhausting air from said cxhaust chan'lber:

5. Apparatus for feeding blanks compris-i ing :1 support for a stack ofblank's'to be led, a suction bend fmtcngaging the blanks in saidsupport. an arm for sup .orting said Suction head having an air (ucttherein communicutmg with saidhead, a valve for controlling the passageof air through Said air duct a spindle on which said arm lS mountedhaving an air duct therein com an exhausVc-hamber into which said"spindle extends and with which the air duct in'said spindlecommunicates, means for exhausting air from-said exhaust chamber; meansfor swinging said arm about the axis of Said spindle. an operating leverconnected with said valve, and a stationary cam for engagin saidoperating lever to operate said municatingrwith the air duct in saidarm,

till

blank and the other blanks in the stack and for moving said platetransversely of the plane thereof away from the blanks in said stack toextract said endmost blank from said supporting means.

7. Blank feeding mechanism comprising a support for a stack of blanks,means for separating a portion of the endmost blank in said stack fromthe other blanks therein, a stripper plate, a lifter, a cam railconnected with said stripper plate arranged to engage said lifter, andmeans for movin said stripper plate and cam rail toward said stack tocause said stripper plate to extract the endmost blank from said stackand to cause said cam rail to engage said lifter and shift the otherblanks in said stack.

8. Mechanism for feeding blanks having projecting flaps thereon, saidmechanism Comprising a support for a stack of blanks, means for engaginga projecting flap on the endmost blank in said stack and for bendingsaid flap away from the remaining blanks in said stack, a stripper platearranged to enter the space between said flap and said remaining blanks,and a second stripper arranged to enter the space between said endmostblank and the other blanks in said stack subsequent to the entry of sandfirst named stripper.

9. Mechanism for feeding blanks comprising a magazine for supporting astack of blanks, means for engaging the lowermost blank in said stackand bending a portion thereof downward, a pair of strippers arranged toenter the space between said lowermost blank and the other blanks insaid stack, means for mOving said strippers simultaneously toward saidstack, said strippcrs being positioned to enter the space between theblanks of said stack successively.

l0. Mechanism for feeding blanks comprising a magazine for supporting astack of blanks. means for engaging the lowermost blank in said stackand bending a portion thereof downwardly, a stripper arranged to enterthe space between said bent portion and the other blanks in said stackto produce further downward movement of said blank, a second stripperarranged to enter the space between said lowermost blank and the otherblanks in said stack subsequentlo the entry of said first namedstripper. and lifters cooperating with said strippers to lift the.remaining blanks in said stack.

11. Blank feeding mechanism comprising a support for a stack of blanks,means for bending one edge of the lowermost blank in said stackdownwardly, a stripper; arranged to enter the space above the downwardlybent portion of-said blank, a cam rail connected with said stripper andmovable therewith. a lifter having a nosepiece for engaging the blanksin said stack, a

roller on said lifter for engaging said cam rail, and a guide for saidlifter permitting vertical and lateral movement thereof when engaged bysaid cam rail.

12. Blank feeding mechanism comprising a magazine for supporting a stackof lanks, means for bending the edge of the lower-' most blank in saidstack downwardly, a stripper arranged to enter the s ace thus providedabove said lowermost b ank, and means for moving said stripperhorizontally toward said stack and downwardly away from the bottomthereof to extract said lowermost blank from said stack.

Blank feeding mechanism comprising a magazine for supporting a stack ofblanks, means for bending a portion of the endmost blank in said stackaway from said stack, a stripper plate for entering the space betweensaid bent portion and said stack, guides for holding said stripper platein substantially parallel positions, and means for moving said stripperplate in the direction of the plane of said blanks and also transverselyto the plane therof to extract said lowermostblank from said stack.

14. Mechanism for feeding blanks comp ising a magazine for supporting astack of blanks to be fed, means for separating a portion of the endmostblank from said stack, a stripper, and parallel motion mechanism formoving said stripper between said endmost blank and the other blanks insaid stack'and transversely to the plane of said blanks away from saidstack to extract said endmost blank from said stack.

15. Blank feeding mechanism comprising a magazine for supporting a.stack of blanks to be fed. a stripper for engaging the inner face of theendmost blank of said stack, means for engaging the outer face .of saidblank, and means for moving said stripper away from said stack toextract said endmost blank therefrom while held between said stripperand said engaging means.

16. Blank feeding mechanism comprising a support for a stack of blanks,means for separating a portion of the endmost blank from said stack, astripper arranged to enter the space between said endmost blank and saidstack, a support for engaging said blank on the face thereof oppositesaid stripper, means for moving said stripper away from said stack toextract said endmost blank therefrom, and yielding means for holdingsaid engaging means against said blank dur ing the movement of saidstripper.

17. Blank feeding mechanism comprising a magazine for supporting a stackof blanks, a suction device for engaging the lowermost blank in-saidstack and bending a portion thereof downwardly, a'stripper arranged toenter the space above said downwardly bent portion, a supporting fingerarranged to engage the lower face of said endmost blank,

ill

means for moving said stripper downwardly to extract said blank fromsaid magazine, and a. friction brake for retaining said finger againstthe lower face of said blank during the downward movement thereof.

18. Blank feeding mechanism comprising a magazine for supporting a stackof blanks, a stripper frame for extracting the endmost blank from saidstark, parallel motion mechanism for operating said stripper frame, anda forwarding device for receiving the blank from said st ripper frameand moving it away from said stack.

19. Blank feeding mechanism comprising a magazine for supporting a stackof blanks to be fed. means for bending a portion of the ondmost blank insaid stack, a stripper for entering the space between said bent portionand stack, means for imparting arcuate movement to said stripper toextract said blank from said stack, a forwarding device for receivingthe blank from said stripper, and means for imparting straight linemovement to said forwarding device.

20, Mechanism for feeding blanks comprising a magazine for supl'iortinga stock of blanks to be fed, a suction device for bending a portion ofthe lowermost blank in said stack downwardly, a stripper frame forentering the space above the bent portion of said blank, a pair of armsfor supporting said. stripper frame and for imparting arcuate parallelmotion thereto, a forwarding device for receiving the blank from saidstripper frame, means for imparting straight line movement to saidforwarding device A fllililillltllly held movable support connected withsaid forwarding device, and means for moving said support intoengagement with the endmost blank in said stack prior to the operationof said stripper frame thereon.

21. Blank feeding mechanism comprising a magazine for supporting a stackof blanks to be fed, a forwarding device positioned below said magazine,means for imparting reciprocating movement to said forwarding device, asupporting member carried by said forwarding device and movable upwardlytherefrom into engagement with the lowermost blank in said magazine, andmeans for extracting said lowermost blank from said magazine and movingit downwardly on said forwarding device while engaged by said supportingmeans.

22. Blank feeding mechanism comprising a magazine for supporting a stackof blanks to be fed, means for bending the edge of the lowermost blankin said stack downwardly, a stripper for entering the space above thebent portion of said blank, means for im-- parting horizontal andvertical movement to said stripper to extract said blank from saidmagazine, a horizontally movable forwarding device for receiving theblank from said stripper, a supporting finger connected with saidforwarding device, lost motion connection between said finger andstripper for raising said finger into position against the lower face ofthe lowermost blank in said magazine, and friction men s for yieldinglyholding said finger against said lowermost face when said blank isextracted from said magazine.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this8th day of December, A. D. 1925.

MICHAEL J. MILMOE.

